Paramount Fine Foods recognized for their work with newcomers to Canada

Mar 21, 2018

OTTAWA, March 21, 2018 /CNW/ - The excellent work of Paramount Fine Foods in developing partnerships and creating a program to train and certify newcomers to work in the food and hospitality sector was recognized today by the Government of Canada.

The Greater Toronto-area business was congratulated today by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Ahmed Hussen as one of the winners of the 2018 Employer Awards for Newcomer Employment for their exemplary work to help newcomers to Canada find and retain jobs and enhance their employment skills. Paramount partnered with Dixie Bloor Neighbourhood Centre to create the program, which includes occupation-specific language training, food handling and safety training as well as information on Canadian workplace culture.

Every year through these awards, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recognizes local businesses' innovative efforts to improve the integration of newcomers into the labour market across Canada. The winning organizations help reduce the barriers faced by newcomers in entering the labour market and improve their overall settlement in Canada.

Winners were announced at the 2018 Employer Council of Champions Summit, organized by Hire Immigrants Ottawa. The Summit brought together business, government and civic leaders to engage in a dialogue about the effective integration of refugees and immigrants into the labour force, and to celebrate employer excellence.

Quotes

"It is encouraging to hear how Paramount Fine Foods has implemented this comprehensive training program to ensure that newcomers, including refugees, are able to find and retain work in the food and hospitality industry. By recruiting immigrants and offering them a route to gainful employment, Canadian employers like this one go above and beyond to create a welcoming environment where newcomers, their families and local communities can thrive."

"It is an honour to win an Employer Award for Newcomer Employment. Like many others, I immigrated to Canada for the opportunity for a better life. I came to Canada with next to nothing, but with the help of this country and its citizens, I was able to apply myself and develop Paramount Fine Foods into what it is today. I always say it is part of Paramount's DNA to give back to its community. That is why we reached out to help newcomers find employment. We want to be a part of their integration, as they also came to Canada looking for a chance for a better life."

– Mohamad Fakih, CEO and President of Paramount Fine Foods

Quick facts

IRCC partners with Hire Immigrants Ottawa to recognize private businesses that support the successful labour market integration of newcomers in Canada.

Winning employers are chosen based on nominations from settlement service provider organizations.

Paramount currently employs more than 500 people at over 55 locations in Canada, the United States, Lebanon and Pakistan. Paramount has committed to hiring up to 100 Syrian refugee newcomers throughout Ontario.